If you are like me, and I consider myself like most women, you probably have no idea where your cervix is located. I have to admit, before trying to conceive (aka TTC — see our glossary for common fertility acronyms), I truly had no idea what was inside my vagina. In no way had I explored it, and I could have happily lived my life not knowing what was in there. It's this inner world that, quite frankly, I didn’t think about.
So as my journey to be a mother got longer and longer, I began to educate myself. I read many books, the best of which you can find in our Recommended Resources.
The first tip was to figure out when you're ovulating. "Look for the egg-white discharge" was the common advice, referring to your cervical mucus. This is totally confusing. While it’s a commonly held belief, it doesn't actually guarantee your optimal time for conception. Beyond that, egg whites are not white — they’re clear. There is a time in your cycle when the discharge is white, and another when it is clear. And then there’s a time when it's in between. Unfortunately, I could not decipher exactly what was the perfect "egginess" for conception. If you are as confused as I was, then take a look at our Understanding your Goo article.
The next thing I learned was finding your cervix is key. Say what? Where's that? Someplace in my vagina? Uhhhhhhh, ok.
Why is the cervix so important to understanding your fertility?
Simply put, the cervix is the gateway to conception. Aside from complex fertility treatments, it’s not possible to get pregnant without getting semen past the cervix.
The cervix is the gateway to the uterus and fallopian tubes, where the sperm and egg rendezvous. It's their mutually agreed upon location to meet. If they meet, then successfully do their thing, then you will be on your way to motherhood.
Ladies, I am going to break it down for you real simple: this is the best, easiest, and fastest way to understand your fertility cycle. Your cervix actually changes in position and texture, indicating when your body is most fertile and least fertile. It’s also the source of your cervical mucus, and for some finding the cervix is the only way to identify exactly what type of fluid is being created — sperm-friendly fluid or not so sperm-friendly.
Forget your period "cycle," which is based on days — and most women I know are not exactly 28 days every single time like clockwork. If you are, I am jealous. I am talking about knowing when your body starts releasing the hormones signaling that it's time to drop an egg. That’s when you know it's time to get busy making a baby!
And that’s why you need to make friends with your cervix. Get very comfortable with the idea that you’re going to discover and understand parts of your body that you never expected to discover or understand. While it may seem weird or messy or just something you’ve never thought about, it’s the absolute best way to take charge of your fertility (yes that’s a reference here to the guru herself, Toni Weschler) and help yourself get pregnant.
Here are the next steps to growing your relationship with your cervix:
